Automatic steering device for torpedoes.



c. n. HAsKms.

AUTOMATIC STEERING DEVICE FOR TORPEDOES.

(Application filed Aug. 2, 1897. Renewed Apr. 12, 1900.)

No. 66|,520. Patented Nov. l3, I900.-

(No Model.)

UN TED-- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OARYL'D. IIASKINS, OFTNE WTON MASSACHUSETTS.

" AUTOMATIC erase-me DEViCE FOR ToRPeooEs.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,520, dated November 13, 1500.

Application tiled August i]. 1897. Renewed Apr-i112, 1900. i'erlal No. 12,634. \No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, QARYL D. H ASKINS, residing at Newton, county of Middlesex State of lvlassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Au tomatic Steering Devices for Torpedoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention'relates to automatic steering devices for torpedoes; and it consists in means for controlling the rudder of the torpedo by a magnetic .device subject to the determining infl uence of the vessel orother object'at which the torpedo may be aimed.

-It-further consists of detailed devices for carrying outthe purpose indicated, including a differential induction-balance and also a' timing device for bringing the apparatus into action only aftersuch a lapse of time as will allow the torpedo to pass out ofthe range of magnetic in fluence of the discharging vessel orstation and come into the range of mag netic influence of the ship'or other object aimed at or attacked.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which show in diagram Figure l a plan of a torpedo provided with my automatic steering apparatus, and in Fig. 2 a modified form of timed circuit-closer.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the shell of the torpedo, which is understood to be provided with any desired form of propellingmotor-such, for instance, as a compressed-air motor-or which may even be projected by an explosive or by compressed air toward the object of attack. The shell may be of steel or iron from the stern up tothe' points a. a, and-from thence to the bow it is ofbrass. or other non-magnetic material.

In the center of the vessel and parallel to its longitudinal axis I place a bar of iron 13,, which. is to be intermittently magnetizedbeginning at a definite time after starting of thetorpedo-by means of a 'rheotome and an electric circuit derived from the terminals of a battery (J. Adjacent to one end of the bar .Band on opposite sides of the central line of the torpedo are placed two diilteiential coils D and E, of exactly equal capacity, arranged in inductive relation to the bar B. It will be apparent that so long as there is no external disturbing magnetic influence thefield of magnet B will be symmetrical and the inducthan the open-circuit ones.

tiv'e 'efi"ect of the bar B will be exactly equal I upon the two coils D and E, so that the coils will counterbalance each other and no current will lie produced therein. In the event, however, of some magnetizing-body, like an iron ship, being present in the neighborhoodof the torpedo such magnetic mass will disturb the symmetry of the magnetic circuit of bar B and decrease the resistance of the circuit upon one side or the other, so as to produce a preponderance of inductive influence on one 'or the other of the coils D E. Therewill then he an'induced current in the circuit of the coils which will he in one direction or the other, according to the side upon which the externalmagnetic mass' exerts its infinence, and'this current will energize one or the other of the magnets F and G of a pecn- 7o liarly-sensitive polarized relayand cause the relay to close the circuit of one or the other of the magnets H and K, which. in turn will.

send a battery -cu rrent into the rudder-motor L in one direction or 'the other, respectively.

M is a timed circuit-closer controlling the circuit of the determining-magnet B.

Taking up in detail the apparatus which I have just described in general terms, the bat-.

tery C may be a large one, capable of sup- 8o plying current for all of the difierent circuits,'or the said circuits may each have an individual battery. The timing device M may be of auydescription-such, forinstance,

as a clock-movementwhich at a definite time willbring the pointer m into contact with the point n and close the circuit through magnet B, or it may be operated by the propelling-motor of the torpedo, as indicated in Fig. 2, so as to close the circuit after the pro- 0 .peller has made a definite number of revoluthis, the armature of the magnet J is retarded in its movement to the magnet-pole by means of dash-pot p The end of this armature plays between two extensions on the shorter To accom plislrroo downward excursion of the armature, which the battery.

will take place slowly, and will he opened during the upward excursion, which will take place rapidly.

The circuit from battery 0 passes through the timed circuitcloser, thence through the rheotome, thence through the coils surrounding the main-bar magnet 13', thence through the lower coil N of magnet N and back to The magnet B is intermittently energized by the -current impulses sent through it. At one end and close tothe poles of the magnelare two coils D and E, which, as already stated, are oppositely wound, so as to be affected equally and oppositely by 'the normal inductive influence of magnet B.

The circuit of these coils passes in series .through the polarized relay-coils and I1 and is then closed onitself.

The armature of the relay-magnets F and G is a permanent magnet O, and it is normally held in a central position by means of magnet N which is permanently energized by a small battery N whose current passes through the coil N. This method of retainingarmatiire, O in its normal central posi-" tion is employed in preference toaspring for two reasons: First, it is capable of much finer adjustment, and, second, its retaining effect decreases as its armature is moved away,while the effect of a spring, on the contrary, would tend to increase. The retaining effect of magnet N is strongly increased and its arms;-

ture held firmly in position by the eflt'ect of.

coil N each ti me that the circuit of magnet B is closed, and this additional retaining force is removed each time that the circuit of magnetB is opened, this being the moment whenthe inductive eflect of the said magnet on the coils E and D is designed to be exerted. The armature O is instantly drawn back by the strong current through coil N .whenever the rheotome again closes the circuit of magnet B. It is obvious that owing to the me-' chanical vibration to which the entire mechanism is subject, and owing also to the fact that this mechanism is inclosed within a torpedo which must be capable of operating in a heavy sea, a comparatively weak balancing and retaining force through the coilN N would not be suflicient to retain the. armature in its normal position for more than a brief period; but it is held firmly by the action of the. strong coil N of magnet N If the magnetic balance is disturbed by the presence of an external magnetic mass, therewill be generated by induct-ion an impulse in the coils D or the coil E which will preponderate over the similar induced current in the other coil, according to the location of the disturbing mass. This will send a current in one direction or the other through the polarized relay-coils and throw the armature O to one side or the other,'it being unlocked'simu'ltaneously by the opening of the circuit the action of said "determining device.

of -coil N by the rhcotome. The magnet 0 will close a'branch circuit from battery 0 through the relay-magnet H or K. which in turn will operate to send current from the battery through the rudder-motor L in one direction or the other, aiid thus steer the torpedo in the proper direction, with its bow. pointed toward the magnetic mass forming the object of attack. Any deviation from this course will be instantly corrected by the differential action just described. This apparatus is extremely delicate,and a very slight induced current. will operate the polarized armature O, which is set' on fine bearings. The magnet Band theinduction apparat us, which operates to control the rudder or other steering apparatus, may be designated asa magnetic determining device, whose action is controlled by the magnetic mass of the object to be attacked. that the magnetic circuit of magnet B may be formed in part by the magnetic part of the torpedo-shell-that is,- the part in the rear of the points a a-and, if desired, therearen'd of magnet B may be positively connected magnetically with the iron portion of the shell I would also observe at its rear end, its forward end being'of by Letters Patent, is r 1. The combination with a torpedo of steering apparatus therefor and a magnetic determining device for said apparatus con-trolled in its action by the magnetic mass of the object to be attacked.

2. The combination with a torpedo of steering apparatus therefor comprising an operating electric motor and a magnetic determining device in the circuit of said motor, con:

trolled in its action by the magnetic mass of the object to be attacked.

3. The combination with a-torpedo of steering apparatus therefor, an electric motor for said apparatus, a circuit for said motor, a determining device for the saidlcircuit, c011 trolled by the magnetic mass of the object to be attacked, and a timing device governing 4. The combination with a torpedo of steer ing apparatus therefor, an electric motor for operating it, a double circuit for the motor, a. double-circuit closer in said circuit and a magnetic determining device controlled by the magnetic mass of the object to be attacked.

5. The combination in a torpedo, of'steering apparatus, a magnetic determining device therefor controlled in its action by the magnetic mass of the object to be attacked, and a non-magnetic casing inclosing the said determining device. I v. 6. The combinationwithatorpedo, of steering apparatus therefor and a magnetic determining device for said apparatus, having included in its magnetic circuit the shell or casingof the torpedo composed of magnetic material and controlled in its action by the magnetic mass of the object to be attacked.

7. The combination with a torpedo ha'vinga shell composed partly of magneticand partly of non-magnetic material, of steering appa-' ratus therefor and a magnetic determining device for said'apparatus, including in its magnet i circuit the magnetic portion of the casing or shell and controlled in its action b the magnetic mass of the object to be attacke 3 8. The combination with a torpedo, of an intermittently-energized magnet, differential inductive devices placed symmetrically in the. field of the said magnet, so as to become active when the said field is disturbed by the magnetic mass of an object to be attacked, and steering apparatus for the torpedo controlled by the said inductive devices.

9. The combination with a torpedo, of a magnet therein intermittently energized,'differcntialinduction-coils in the field of said magnet, a'polarized relay in the circuit of said coils, and a steering apparatus for the torpedo controlled by the' said relay when energized by a differential current in the said coils, arising when the magnetic circuit of the magnet aforesaid is disturbed by the magnetic mass of the object to be attacked.

10. The combination with a torpedo, of steering ap'paratus therefor and a' magnetic determining device for said apparatus controlledin'its action by the magnetic mass of the object-to be attacked and consisting of a magnet intermittently energized from a source of current beginning at a definite time or distance after starting, and having in its V magnetic field opposing coils located one on each side of the longitudinal axis of the-torpedo, so as to be'affected differentially by the induction of the magnet aforesaid when its magnetic circuit is disturbed by the magnetic mass of the object to be attacked and includ ing'in their circuit a polarized relay controlling the steering apparatus. 4

In witness whereof I have hereunto set. my hand this 21st day of 'July, 1897.

v CARYL D.- HASKINS.

Witnesses: GEBTRUDE' M. BALL, FRED. M. KINCHAY. 

